Peter Glensor, Chair of the Regional Council’s
Economic Wellbeing Committee, says the new network will mean
more services in many areas. “Core bus routes such as
between Wellington and Karori, Island Bay, Lyall Bay,
Brooklyn and the Miramar Peninsula will run at least every
15 minutes seven days a week. There’ll be half hourly bus
services between the CBD and Newlands and Johnsonville every
day, seven days a week. Less populated suburbs will have a
30-60 minute bus service seven days a week. Additional peak
hour bus services will, as they do currently, supplement the
all-day routes.”

Key features of the new network
include:• More frequent off-peak bus services for 15
suburbs• New weekend and later evening services for 11
suburbs including Maupuia and Kowhai Park• A new
weekday bus service for Crofton Downs• A simpler
network – a total of 36 routes, compared to the current
44• Less doubling up of services - currently a number
of different services travel along very similar
routes• More reliable services due to less bus
congestion• Better access to local centres and key
destinations• Access within a 10-minute walk to a bus
service that runs at least every half hour for 72% of people

“One of the most serious problems this review aimed to
resolve was reducing the severe bus congestion along the
Golden Mile (Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Manners Street and
Courtenay Place) at peak hour. Currently, for example, 231
buses travel on the Golden Mile between 8am and 9am each
weekday. This significantly slows down travel times not just
along the Golden Mile but throughout Wellington City.

“The new network aims to get that number down to 190,
through reducing duplication of services, better matching of
bus size to demand, and improved traffic light phasing.
However, an international transport consultant, who has done
a lot of research for us, advises that the optimum number
needs to be a maximum of 120, or 60 in each direction. So
we’ve got a lot more work to do. Although we’ve not
planned in this design for an alternative route to the
Golden Mile, if congestion issues aren’t resolved through
these initiatives we’ll be pushing forward with Wellington
City Council for our plans on an alternative peak overflow
route.”

The new network incorporates feedback on an
earlier proposal which was consulted on in February and
March this year. There have been also two subsequent rounds
of meetings with various community groups, residents’
association representatives and public transport advocates.
“Our review team has engaged with people and really worked
through the issues that emerged from the consultation.

“I’d like to thank all those who have given us
feedback on the review this year especially those who turned
out twice for the face to face consultations. This process
gives us confidence that the network is not just more
efficient, but is responding to commuter and community
needs.”

Key differences between the new network and that
proposed at the start of the year include:• Less need
for people to connect between services• The removal of
a proposed core route along The Terrace• Retention of
a direct bus service to Victoria University on Kelburn
Parade• Direct routes between Wellington CBD and
Newlands and Johnsonville• Direct services to
Kilbirnie from the Miramar PeninsulaPeter Glensor says
after the network concept has been approved by the Regional
Council, detailed timetables will be developed for all
services.

“We’ll then talk to community
representatives and after getting their feedback we’ll
begin negotiations with the bus operators to implement the
changes.”

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